Routing device



C- 3, 1967 A. M. KVALHEIM ETAL 3,344,827

ROUTING DEVICE 2 SheeLs-Sheet l Filed 001;. l2, 1965 A. M. KVALHEIM ETAL 3,344,827

Oct. 3, 1967 ROUTING DEVI CE Filed Oct, l2, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,344,827 ROUTING DEVICE Andrew M. Kvalheim and Irwin S. Kvalheim, both of 823-25 Petaluma Blvd. S., P.O. Box 77, Petaluma, Calif. 94952 Filed Get. 12, 1965, Ser. No. 495,167 13 Claims. (Cl. 144-144) The invention relates to wood boring mechanisms, and in particular to an apparatus for routing wood or like material to at least two depths.

The invention has particular utility for the preparation of strike jambs for doorways. In the construction of large apartments or oiiice buildings, it is usually necessary to hang hundreds of doors or more, all such doo-rs being of approximately the same dimensions. Alternatively, several different sets of doors might be hung, each set including a number of doors of similar dimensions. In the hanging of doors, it is important that the lock receiving portion of the strike jamb of the doorway be exactly and properly located with respect to the lock of the door. Generally speaking, the present invention comprises a frame an-d template apparatus having adjustable clamp portions thereon for receiving a long strip of wood in the form of a strike jamb and for holding a standard router which is guided in a routing operation by the template. Once the adjustable clamps are set, a large number of strike jambs may be prepared in a very short time, each said jamb being routed with a maximum degree of preciseness.

The present invention comprises a frame having an elongated beam thereon, means thereon for firmly securing the workpiece or strike jamb thereto, adjustable stop means for locating the workpiece longitudinally with respect to the beam, a unique template tirmly secured to thebeam, the template being constructed to permit routing to at least two depths, a universal arm support for a standard router, and a base for the router which cooperates with the template in the Vrouting operation.

Therefore, it is a primary object of this invention to provide a routing apparatus including means to hold a workpiece and a template to guide the router.

It is another object of the invention to provide a routing apparatus having adjustable set means for varying the size and location of the area to be routed.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a routing apparatus having a unique template which permits routing to at least two depths. Y

A further object of the invention is to provide a'routing apparatus having a base for a standard router which coperates with a novel template for bi-level routing.

Another object of the invention is to provide a universally movable support for a standard router.

Finally, it is an object of the invention to provide a router apparatus which is simple in design and thus low in cost of manufacture.

Further and more particular objects of the invention will be apparent by reference to the following drawings in which: 1

FIG. l is an elevational, side view of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial, plan View of the invention shown in FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, partial plan view of the template of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a sectional View taken along lines 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is another sectional view taken along 5--5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a bottom, plan view of the novel router base guide of the invention; and

FIG. 7 is a plan View of the routed workpiece.

lines ,i ce

Referring now to the drawings by reference character, and in particular to FIGS. l and 2 thereof, the invention is shown Vcomprising a frame having support legs 10, 12, an elongated box 'beam 14 atop legs 10 and 12, a plurality of angled support brackets 16, each secured to box beam 14 by a threaded bolt 18 and slotted at 20 so as to permit vertical adjustability thereof, a pair of end stops 22, 24, each having a threaded member 26 therein for longitudinally adjusting the workpiece or strike jamb to be routed, a pressure clamp 28 having a vertically movable platen 30 thereon, a template assembly 32 rigidly secured to the box beam 14 and ex-tending over movable platen 30, and a universal arm support 34 for supporting a standard router 36 having a base guide 38 thereon. The workpiece or unrouted strike jamb is placed upon brackets 16 with the face to the routed facing upwardly, brackets 16 being moved up or down depending on the thickness of the workpiece until the piece tits securely against the bottom of template assembly 32. Brackets 16 are secured firmly in place by tightening bolts 18. Lengthwise adjustment with respect to template assembly 32 is made by appropriate movement of lthreaded stop members 26, which may be locked in place by a locking nut 40. If the workpiece is too short, one or the other of end stops 22, 24, may be used alone by merely placing the end of the workpiece against stop member 26. It is apparent that support brackets 16 and one or the other or both of end stops 22, 24 may 4be adjusted and then clamped in place prior to routing a plurality of strike jambs which must each be of the same dimensions. Finally, that area of the workpiece to be routed is clamped firmly against template assembly 32 by platen 30 which is operated by pressure clamp 28. Pressure clamp 28 may be either hydraulically or air operated by feed lines 42 through footoperated pedal 44 connected to source of hydraulic fluid or air under pressure (not shown). It desired, those portions of angle brackets 16, end stops 22, 24, template assembly 32, and platen 30 that contact the workpiece may be covered with felt or other suitable protective material to prevent marring of the workpiece.

Universal support 34 includes a Vertical post 46, firmly secured to beam 14, a lirst horizontally pivoting arm 48, a second pivoting arm 50, secured to the free end of arm 48 and a resilient spring support 52 at the free end of arm 50 and -to router 36, said support permitting limited vertical movement of router 36. Support 34 is notY a necessary part of the invention and may be dispensed with, if desired.

The structure and operation of template assembly 32 and base guide 38 are best illustrated by FIGS. 3 through 6. Template assembly 32 includes a pair of spaced support brackets 54, 54, lirmly welded to or otherwise suitably attached, to the top of box beam 14. A pair of support blocks 56, 56 are secured to brackets 54, 54 and extend laterally outwardly over portion 58 of workpiece 60 (FIG. 4), one to each side of platen 30. A movable template base 62 having central opening 64 therein is secured to blocks 56, 56 by a pair of bolts 66, 66 through slots 68, 68. A pair of incremental screw thread adjusters 70, 70 are provided, one to each block 56 for determining the lateral placement of base 62 with respect to portion 58 of workpiece 60, which is to be routed. Once proper placement is determined, by adjusters 70, 70, base 62 is firmly secured to blocks 56, 56 by tightening bolts 66, 66. A pair of longitudinal router base guides 72, 72 are secured one to each side of central opening 64 and parallel With beam 14. The inwardly facing sides of guides 72, 72 are coincident with the respective edges of opening 64, as shown in FIG. 4. A pair of ixed template blocks 74, 74 are secured one to each side of opening 64, on longitudinal guides 72, 72. Finally, a pair of movable template blocks 'Y 2.V :Thejdevice of claim 1 wherein said frame'com upright support legs, an'elongated box beam on said legs workpiece.

" each secured thereto by bolts 78 through slots 80. Pairs of incremental screwthread adjusters 82, 82 are provided, one pair for each template block 76, adjusters 82 secured to base 62 and operating in the same manner as adjusters 70. y

Referring now to FIG. 6, base guide 38includes a first, generally s quare guide plate 84, a second, rectangular 'guide plate 86 secured to the bottom of plate 84, and a tube 88 for receiving router bit 90, mounted-centrally through plates 84 and 86. FIG. 7 indicates a workpiece in the form of a door strike jamb which has been routed to one depth at'92 and to a second, interior depth 94.

In operation, the workpiece is secured to the apparatusY in the manner hereinbefore'described. Router 36 with base-guide 38 is then placed upon template assembly 32 Vso that plate 86 isv positioned laterally of central opening Y64, on top of longitudinal guides 72, 72. First depth 92 is vthen routedout,V the edges thereof being determined by e Contact ofedges 96, 96 of plate 84 with the inwardlyV device.

. 4Y pressure, and a foot operated pedalpforV selectively feeding and releasing fluid under pressure tol said pressure 5. The device of claim Y for a router comprises a-vertical post, rigidly secured to said frame, a firstarm secured to the upper endof said post and movable therearound in .a horizontal plane, a

Q second arm, secured to the free end of said first arm and facing edges of movable `template blocks 76, 76, and by contact of tube 88 with Vthe inwardly facing edges of longitudinal guides V72, 72. When the first routing step is com* pleted, router36. with plates 84V andV 86 therebeneath, is rotated 90 degrees so that portions 98, 98 of guide plate 84 rest upon longitudinal guides-72, 72. Second depth 94 isV then'routed out, the limits Ythereof being determined by contact of edges 100, 100 of plate 86 with the inwardly facing edges of longitudinal guides 72, 72, and contact of Yedges 102, 102 of plate 84 with the inwardly facing edges of fixed template blocks 74, 74. Once the Ysecond routing step is completed, router 36 is lifted up vand away from templateV assembly 32, platen is released from Workpiece 60 by operation of pressure lock 28 and a new workpiece is inserted for routing.

It can be seen from VVthe foregoing that we have-invented a new and highly useful device in the art of woodworking, therefore, we are not to be limited to the exact construction as'herein provided, except as may be deemed within the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:V Y, 1 y Y 1. An apparatus for routing a suitabley workpiece to at least two depths'comprising a frame, means for holding a workpiece on saidV frame, support means for a router,

Y template means on said frame for guiding the router in a routing operation, and base guide meansion saidY router for cooperating with said template means in a routingY operation, said template having a central opening therein, a pair of longitudinal guides one on each side above the opening and end stops at each end of the opening aboveV the longitudinal guides, said base guide comprising a first'4 Y generallyrsquareguide kplate and a second lower guide plate secured to the bottom of Vsaid first plate and having a length generally equal to the base of the first plate and Y a widthsubstantially less than the internal spacing of said longitudinal guides,rsaid secondplate being contact withV said longitudinalV guides in routingfto a first depth, said first guide plate being in contact with said longitudinal s guides'rin Vrouting to a second depth.

:and a plurality of vertically .adjustable brackets attached to oneV vertical side of said box beam, lfor supporting the 3. The device of claim 1 wherein said means holding the workpiece comprises a pair of end-stops, adjustingY Vmeans in said end stops for locating the workpiece in Va rises Y ed on each of the first blocks and extending laterally out- 'Y Y wardly of the frame, over-the workpiece, aflatrplatc Vhaving said Vcentral opening therein selectivelypositiouable on said second blocks laterallywith respect to the frame,

said longitudinal guides mounted thereon, each of said .i end stops Vcomprising a first Vportion attached tothe longi-` Ytudinal guides and a second portion selectively 'positionrespect to saidz! able'on said first portion lengthwise with frame. f

8. The device of'claim V7 wherein means are provided for selectively positioning said fiat plateY and each of ksaid end-stop second portions, a first pair of means for said at plateand a second pair of means frorjeach Yof' said Vsecond portions, each of said pairs of means comprising a lug, a threaded bore in said lug Yanda screw through saidV Ybore with its end abutting the fiat plate and each of said* second portions. Y

9. The device of claim 7 wherein said base guide is pro vided with a tube locatedcentrally through said first and VVsecond plates, for receiving the bit of the router, said tube extending below the yplane of the second plate, the

horizontalk planar limits of the first Yroutedrdepth being determined by contact of the first guide plate with said Y second portions of'said end stops'andby contact of said tube with the inwardly facing sides of said longitudinal guides, the horizontal planar limits of the second routedV depth being determined by contact of the long sides of said second guide plate with said inward sides of said longitudinal guides rand by Contact of the ends of said second guide plate withrsaid first portions of said end stops'.

10. In combination, -a templateV and Aguider-meansfor facilitating a routing operation to at least Atwo depths, said Y Ytemplate comprising aV base structureY having a central opening Ytherein for receiving a routerV bit, raisedlongi-V tudinal guides at each sideV of said opening Yand end stops fi at each end ofsaidopeningabove said longitudinal guides,

,saidY guide means securable Vto thebase of a routenand` Y comprising a first, generally square plate, a second rectangular plate secured to the base ofsaid first plate substantially equal inV length Yto the basse of said firstV plate'a'nd a width substantially less than the internal spacing of said.v Y longitudinal guides, said second plate'in` contact with the lupper faces of said longitudinal guidesin routingto a first depth, said first plate in contact with said upper faces selected position, longitudinally with respect Vto said frame, a vertically movable platen located beneath said' i template, and .means Vmoving the platen towards said tematively connectedto said platen, feedlines for fluid under;

end stops includes a first portion Vsecured to the longi- Y tudinal'guidesanda second Vportion selectively position- Y able lengthwise with respect to said longitudinal guides.

' V12. The combination ofV claim 11 wherein means are provided Vfor selectively positioning, each second portionVY comprising a pair of bores threaded lugs on the outer end of said first portion, anadjustingV screw in each said lug,

abutting means defining the outer edge lof said second portion, -a pair of longitudinalslots Yin each second portion,

1 wherein said support means wherein said template means 1 5 and a bolt for each slot, through the second portion to the first rigid portion.

13. The combination of claim 11 wherein said rst and second plates are provided with a tube therethrough, for receiving a router bit, said tube having a portion extending below the plane of the second plate, the horizontal planar limits of the first routed depth being determined by abutment of the edges of said first plate with the inward sides of said second portion of the end stops and by contact of the extended tube portion with the inward sides of said longitudinal guides, the horizontal limits of the second routed depth being determined by contact of the edges of 6 said first plate with the inward sides of said first portions of the end stops and by contact of the long sides of the second plate with said inward sides of said longitudinal guides.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,718,324 6/ 1929 Wappat 144-70 3,082,800 3/ 1963 Soss 144-27 3,301,288 1/1967 Norbie et a1. 144-144 DONALD R. SCHRAN, Primary Examiner. 

1. AN APPARATUS FOR ROUTING A SUITABLE WORKPIECE TO AT LEAST TWO DEPTHS COMPRISING A FRAME, MEANS FOR HOLDING A WORKPIECE ON SAID FRAME, SUPPORTING MEANS FOR A ROUTER, TEMPLATE MEANS ON SAID FRAME FOR GUIDING THE ROUTER IN A ROUTING OPERATION, AND BASE GUIDE MEANS ON SAID ROUTER FOR COOPERATING WITH SAID TEMPLATE MEANS IN A ROUTING OPERATION, SAID TEMPLATE HAVING A CENTRAL OPENING THEREIN, A PAIR OF LONGITUDINAL GUIDES ONE ON EACH SIDE ABOVE THE OPENING AND END STOPS AT EACH END OF THE OPENING ABOVE THE LONGITUDINAL GUIDES, SAID BASE GUIDE COMPRISING A FIRST GENERALLY SQUARE GUIDE PLATE AND A SECOND LOWER GUIDE PLATE SECURED TO THE BOTTOM OF SAID FIRST PLATE AND HAVING A LENGTH GENERALLY EQUAL TO THE BASE OF THE FIRST PLATE AND A WIDTH SUBSTANTIALLY LESS THAN THE INTERNAL SPACING OF SAID LONGITUDINAL GUIDES, SIAD SECOND PLATE BEING CONTACT WITH SAID LONGITUDINAL GUIDES IN ROUTING TO A FIRST DEPTH, SAID FIRST GUIDE PLATE BEING IN CONTACT WITH SAID LONGITUDINAL GUIDES IN ROUTING TO A SECOND DEPTH. 